“Far too often our pasts are there to confront us. Be a memory or an actual sighting of the person that takes us back and leashes that floodgate. Here on this timeless track from Rightfield, the jolt arrives in the form of a ‘Birthday Party’ with the forced social awkwardness of encountering an ex for the first time.”
“If a classic, prohibition era speakeasy had a sound, this track would be it. ‘Seven Year Storm’ is a bluesy, jazzy, Indie rock ride through hard times and an IDGAF attitude. This offering isn’t as commercial sounding as much of the music we feature on LA on Lock, but something about the spirit of the song spoke to me.”
“For my money, the best Rock and Roll is born from anger and attitude. DEVORA offers up plenty of both in this ode to personal rage and frustration.
’Body Bag’ sounds like Sheryl Crow, if Sheryl Crow were pissed off and ready to start enacting revenge on all her enemies while teamed up with Rob Zombie to score the soundtrack. ”
“Kath Myers is a bit of an enigma. Launching her foray into the music business at thirty-one, she brings a different perspective to the her writing and ‘According to the Law’ deals with the emptiness and social stigma of dating someone considerable younger.
Written about a relationship she had with a person 15 years younger than herself, and with a view into a perspective not often represented in contemporary American music the song stands out in a unique way ... You were born too late / You’re just a baby / By the time you’re in your prime I’m gonna be an old lady / But I’m in my prime today so let’s do it anyway ... she sings over sparse piano, guitar, drums and a deep seated bass line that sit back and set a deceptively grand stage for Myers’ incredible vocals to shine with a sheen that belies her relative lack of experience behind a mic.”
“Julian Lamadrid conjures up the style of Prince, the vibe of Timberlake, and the energy of Bruno here on on this track. ‘15 Minutes’ is an energetic Electro Pop joy ride with an artistic flair that is undeniable. This is a track you will be hearing a lot of this summer and beyond.”
“Peaky Blinders meets Ray Wylie Hubbard. Chances are most of you have no idea who Ray Wylie Hubbard is but this track put me in mind of the Outlaw Texas songwriter.
Opus Kink hails from Brighton, England and this track has a gritty Cowboy PUnk/ British fusion vibe that simply works in a dark gritty way.”
“Riley Pearce taps into the human psyche with ease, both in the writing and the performance. Delivering a sound that lands somewhere between Springsteen and Coldplay, this Aussie evokes strong emotion with a slow, yet steady build that matches the tone of the lyrics step for step. Can’t wait to hear more from this artist. ”
“Passion goes a long way into making an artist’s vision come through in a way others can feel. That is the strength of ‘Nobody’s Daughter’ by Blume Hinges. The style is a little bit Punk, a little bit Indie Rock, with just a hint of Southern Rock and Americana in the mix. The writing is strong and the delivery meaningful in that raw, angsty way that works so well for tracks like this. ”
“A hard-charging song about a girl named ‘Livia.’ On the surface you might wonder why you are supposed to care about Livia or her namesake song, but the energy here is palpable and the rock permeates a timeless vibe that feels both classic and contemporary instantly. A big bold track that hooks you and puts you right there yearning for Livia.”
“Rock and Roll has long been about taking a seething rage and distilling it down into a musical art form that the masses can sip from. True to that, Caveat Empire has created an elixir for the times with their single, ‘Company Man,’ a song of true anger and brewing rage. ”
“Melody Federer drops this Anti-Love song which delivers an eerie vibe — as if the track were created for a Valentine’s Day version of NIghtmare Before Christmas.
There are clear Pop Elements, but ‘I Hate Love’ offers its own brand of angst-filled rebellion that wraps around your cold heart like a sinister snake looking for warmth. Dark and winding, the arrangement captivates and intrigues even as you fear the bite of those jaded thoughts.”
“This track hit me like a fever dream. A dream I might have after getting drunk on Sake and then falling asleep while watching Pulp Fiction. I gotta be straight up honest and say I’m not sure what captivated me so much on this track, because I can’t translate a word lyrically, but the Japanese Surf Rock sound hooked me and wouldn’t let go.”
“We all have those old camera shots that transpose us back in time in an instant. With the new single, ‘Camera Roll,’ Lex Holmes unfurls the emotions of such a trip and the times behind it.
The Indie Rock sound, and slow tempo of the track combine to hook the listener in and put them in the perfect place to reflect on their own set of images.”
“This is as honest and emotionally bare as music gets. Zach Hood drops a deeply personal Indie Pop song about the emotional effect on a child when one parent simply walks out of their life. Divorce is rough on all involved, and the imagery of the home videos here doubles down on the emotion of the track.”
“Rock isn’t dead; you just have to find the right tunes. Covstline’s new single ‘Tattooed Lies’ is an 80’s inspired production with a twist. The punk rock vocals introductory has a clever delivery. Every tattoo someone has tells a story and Tattooed Lies reveals that. ”
“If life were presented like a novel, then no doubt each chapter would represent the times we fall in and out of love. The Luka State has given us a track that takes the emotions of those ups and downs, and distills them into musical form. I hear hints of vintage Springsteen and splash of Bryan Adams to the vocal style with an almost gospel like musical build that comes across as pure Indie Rock.”
“Jenny Kern dials up the mood of solitude on her new track, ‘Coming Back For Me.’ The writing and vocal performance combine to capture the vibe of what I’d describe as lonely determination.
The realization that we are each responsible for our own emptions ... be it happiness, anger, pain or any other, is a tough one to grasp, but knowing how to be okay completely within yourself is a worthwhile pursuit for us all .”
“Devora says of the single — ‘This song commemorates the ups and downs of life, while celebrating the moments that we have today, if only for today. It’s a salute to going your own way in life and carving your own lane undaunted—observing one’s uniqueness, honoring yourself and embracing the crazy ride along the way. This song is a salute to outlaws everywhere.’
Travis says of the single, This is a kick ass supercharged track that pumps through your veins from start to finish.”
“The Candid offers up the pain of having your heart removed. ‘Amputation’ is not a word widely used as a synonym for hear break but having your soul ripped out by a bad breakup is no less panful than losing a limb while you are are enduring the emotional pain so it works well here in this raw, Indie Rock delivery. ”
“Fans of Jack White will appreciate the eclectic and at times, defiant sound of Bad Flamingo. This is not the first track from the masked band that has caught my attention here at LA on Lock, nor is it likely the last given the band’s proclivity for mood setting productions and arrangements.
There is an element of Spaghetti Western here with a bit of trail dust carrying a hint of bad girl grit. Such a track will miss for some, but if you are looking for something different than the same old radio tracks — Bad Flamingo has a leg up on the competition.”